Engine starting system



1965 I R. FORTIER 3,170, 51

ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 26, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ii- ;f il-Roland FQRT/E'R PAW/V7 AGENT Feb. 23, 1965 Filed Dec. 26, 1961 R.FORTIER 3,170,451

ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT'OR Roland FORT ER BYQWPATENT AGENT United States Patent 3,170,451 ENGINE STARTING SYSTEMRoland Fortier, Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada, assignor to LesIndustries Electriques de Thetford Ltee, Thetford Mines, Quebec, CanadaFiled Dec; 26, 1961, Ser. No. 162,006 1 Claim. (Cl. 123-179) The presentinvention relates to a starting system for internal combustion engineswhich facilitates starting in cold and/ or humid weather.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an ignition systemin which a rapid succession of sparks are produced in each cylinder ofthe engine at the time the compression is completed.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a systemof the character described which is of simple, inexpensive and veryetficient construction.

Another important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a vibrator unit for producing the rapid succession ofsparks which is of solid and long life construction.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of asystem of the character described in which an ignition switch isprovided so arranged, that, with the use of only one ignition key,winter starting with a rapid succession of sparks as well as normalstarting can be obtained, the vibrator circuit being automatically cutoff when the engine is started.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of asystem of the character described further including a push button switchwhich can extend the duration of the production of the succession ofsparks even after the engine is started and the starter motor isstopped.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention willbecome more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring tothe drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the sealed box containing the vibratorin accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the vibrator;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic electric circuit of the starting system inaccordance with a first embodiment of the invention and incorporatingthe vibrator;

FIGURES 4 to 7 inclusive show in a schematic manner the differentpositions of the ignition switch movable member; and

7 FIGURE 8 is a schematic electric circuit of a second embodiment of thestarting system in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elementsthroughout.

In accordance with the present invention, for cold or damp weatherstarting, the usual cam operated timing switch is supplanted by avibrator which produces a rapid succession of sparks at the spark plugof the cylinder being under compression.

The vibrator in accordance with the invention is located in a completelysealed box A which has a base 1 on which is mounted an electro-magnet 2which is adapted to attract a branch 3 of a vibrating lever 4 in theform of a fork the main leg of which consists of a spring blade 15secured to a bracelet 16 itself secured to and electrically connected tobase 1. Lever has a movable contact 17 adapted to abut stationarycontact 5 secured to but electrically insulated from base 1. Electriccurrent is fed to the solenoid of electro-magnet 2 by wire 6 mile theoutput of said solenoid is connected by wire 7 to stationary contact 5and current returns to ground by contact 17, lever 4, bracket 16 andbase 1 which is grounded.

3,ii,45i Patented Feb. 1?;3, 1965 The other branch of lever 4 supports amovable contact S which is adapted to abut against a stationary contact11 which is secured to but is electrically insulated from base 1.

Spring blade 15 resiliently maintains lever 4 in a position in whichcontacts 8 and 11 arespaced apart and contacts 5 and 17 close thecircuit. Whenbranch 3 of lever 4 is attracted by electro-magnet 2,closing of contacts 8 and 11 and opening of contacts 5 and 17.takesplace. A wire 37 is connected to stationary contact 11. Wires 6 and 37extend outside the box A through the intermediary of an insulating plate10 which closes an opening made in the box A.

The vibrator in accordance with the invention is electrically connectedto the ignition and starting circuits of the engine as shown in FIGURE3.

In this figure, the conventional battery of the vehicle is shown at 21,the primary and secondary of the induction coil are shown at 22 and 23respectively, the cam operated timer switch and its condenser are shownat 24 while reference numeral 25 indicates the distributor connected tothe spark plugs 26 of the respective cylinders of the engine.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the mainignition and starting switch is of the rotary type and is actuated by anignition key; it is schematically shown by lever 27 pivoted on a shaft28 on which is also mounted another rotary switch 35.

Lever 27 of the ignition switch is connected to battery 21 by wire 29and can take four different positions shown in FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7.

In the position of FIGURE 4, the ignition switch is completely opened.

In the position of FIGURE 5, lever 27 makes contact only with contact 31which closes the circuit to the input of the primary 22 of the inductioncoil, the output of primary 22 being connected to timing switch 24through the rotary switch 35 which is in position A. In the position ofFIGURE 5, the ignition is normal for the engine in running condition.

The position shown in FIGURE 6 is .a normal starting position to effectone spark for each cylinder and to operate the starting motor 36. Inthis position, lever 27 is in contact with contacts 31 and 32 and rotaryswitch 35 is still in position A. The normal ignition circuit is closedby contact 31 which contact 32 which is connected to the starting motor36 completes the circuit for said motor and actuates the same.

FIGURE 7 shows the position of the ignition switch for winter or dampweather starting. In this position, lever 27 makes contact with contacts32, 33 and 34 while rotary switch 35 is now in the position B. Contact33is connected to the primary 22 of the ignition coil, the output ofsaid primary is connected by wire 37 through switch 35 to the points 8,11 of the vibrator unit and to the ground. Contact 34 feeds electricityto the solenoid 2 of the vibrator. Thus, the vibrator is actuated andcauses the rapid closing and opening of contacts 8, 11, which causes arapid variation of the current in the primary 22, thus a rapidsuccession of sparks at the spark plug 26 put in circuit by distributor25.

It will be noted that rotary switch 35 which is mounted on the shaft 28of the ignition switch and which is actuated by the ignition key remainsin position A for the positions of lever 27 shown in FIGURES 4, Sand 6and takes the position B only when lever 27 assumes the position shownin FIGURE 7. Thus, the operator operates the ignition switch in normalmanner for normal starting and only has to turn the ignition key furtherclockwise to cause winter or damp weather starting by means of a rapidsuccession of sparks in accordance with the invention.

'FIGURE 8 shows another embodiment of the starting system in accordancewith the present invention in which the vibrating unit is so connectedthat itautomatically operates every time the starter motor is inoperation and which includes manually operated means .for continuingoperation of the vibrator even after stoppage of the starter FIGURES 3and 2. The vibrating. unit is connected to the conventional electricalcircuit of the engine of the motor vehicle in a manner which will bedescribed after reference is made to .said normal electrical circuit ofthe vehicle. Said circuit comprises as in the first embodiment, abattery 21 connected to ground on one side, and connected to junction 38on its high side which is in turn connected to .the'pri'rnary 22 of theignition coil through ignition switch 3?, the secondary 23 of theignition coil being connected to the distributor 25 which in turn isconnected to spark plugs 26 in usual manner. The primary 22 is connectedto the timer switch 24 in usual manner. Starter switch is connected tojunction 38 and to the solenoid 41. of the starter motor relay 42. Theother end of solenoid 41 is connected to ground at 43.. The startermotor 44 is connected to ground 43 and to the movable contact of startermotor relay 42, the latter contact making contact with stationarycontact 45 of the relay 42 upon actuation of solenoid 41. Contact 45 isconnected to the high side of battery 21 through wires 46 and 47.Switches 39 and 40 are normally combined in conventional manner althoughthey have been shown as being independent of each other in the drawing.Namely, these two switches are mechanically connected so that theignition switch 39 operates first and then the starter switch 40 inresponse to rotation of a key in a key controlled combined ignition andstarter switches. Wire 37 of the vibrator 1 isdirectly connected at '43to the wire connecting the output of primary 22 to the timer 24. The

7 wire 6 of vibrator unit 1 is connected to a push button switchgenerally shown at 49; said switch comprises a pair of upper stationarycontacts 50 and 50' and a pair of stationary'lower contacts 51 and 51.

connected through plate 52. Wire 6 is connected to con-' tacts 50 and-51. Contact 50' is connected by wire to I A movable contact plate 52provided with a push button 53 protrudvibrator unit by depressing'pu'shbutton 53 in which case 1.0 f on the dash boardof the motorvehicle withbutton 53' V readily accessible tothe driver. The provision of switchthe input of .solenoid' il' of startermotor relay 42. Lower contact 51'is connected by wire 56 to junction 38.

As previously mentioned, in the rest position of push button switch 4-9,contacts 50 and 50 are interconnected by movable plate 52. Upon closingof combined ignition switch 39 and starter switch 40, the ignitioncircuit is closed in conventional manner and also the starter circuit bymeans of relay 42. Simultaneously, and as long as starter switch 40 isclosed, the vibrator circuit is also closed in the following manner?Starter switch 40, wire 55, contact 50', plate 52, contact 50, wire 6,solenoid 2 of the vibrator, contacts 5,17, lever 4, 15 and ground. Thevibrator vibrates and contacts 8, 11 rapidly open andclose to therebysupply variable current to the--primary22 of the induction coil throughwire 37 and junction 48. Thus, a plurality of sparks are produced by thespark plugs 26 connected through distributor 25. As soon as starterswitch 40 opens, the vibrator unit is cut oit.

However, after opening of starter switch 40 and stoppagefotstarter motor44, the operator can still cause production of a rapidsuccession ofsparks through the the starter switch 40 isby-passed through wire 56,contact 51 plate 52 and contact 51 The push button switch 49 will benormally located 49 for efiecting rapid succession of sparks even afterthe starter motor is stopped, is very useful'especialiy during the firstfew minutes of engine running, when the spark plug electrodes are, stilldamp with humidity or wet with excessive gas condensedthereon- Thesparks in rapid succession will rapidly dry out the spark plugelectrodes.

In the second embodiment, it will be noted thatthe timer switch 24isnot. cut off duringoperation of the vibrator, as it has been foundthat the continuing operation of the timer 'does not impede operation ofthe vibrator. 7

While preferred embodiments in accordance with the present inventionhave been illustrated and described it is understood that variousmodifications may be resorted to without'departing from the spirit andscope of the 'appended claim.

What I claimis:

A starting system for internal combustion engines comprising sparkplugs, a battery, a starter motor, an induction coil having a primaryand a secondary, a cam operated timer switch and a vibrator unitelectrically connected to said primary, a distributor for the sparkplugs of the engine electrically connectedto said secondary, an ignitionswitch for electrically connecting the induction coil to the battery, astarter switch for electrically connecting the starter motor to thebattery, and a manually operated push button switch having a normalposition in which said switch electrically connects said vibrator unitto the wire electrically connecting said starter switch to the startermotor, such that said vibrator unit will vibrate as long as said startermotor operates,- rsaid manually operated push button switch having analternate depressed position in which'it by-passes said starter switchand electrically connects said vibrator unit directly to said battery,so that continuation of operation of said vibrator unit can be achievedeven after stoppage of said starter motor, said vibrator unit having asolenoid, a fork-shaped vibrating lever with contacts at the outer endsof its two branches and electrically; connected to ground by a springblade, and stationary contacts adapted to successively and alternativelyabut the contacts at the outer ends of'said branches, one of saidstationary contacts being electrically connected to said solenoid andthe other stationary contact being electrically connected to the primaryof the induction coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

